Foreign Direct Investment in the United States increased by 76241 USD Million in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - United States Foreign Direct Investment - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In the last 20 years, the amount of FDI into the United States has more than doubled. In 2000, FDI was 1.26 trillion U.S. dollars, rising to 5.39 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. Foreign direct investment (FDI) is an investment from a company in one country into a company or entity located in another country. While the United States receives huge amounts of FDI each year, it also invests large amounts in other countries. For example, in 2020 the United States invested over 890 billon U.S. dollars in the United Kingdom and another 843.95 billion U.S. dollars in the Netherlands.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S.; Asset (Current Cost), Transactions (ROWFDIQ027S) from Q4 1946 to Q4 2024 about FDI, IMA, transactions, assets, and USA.

Key information about United States Foreign Direct Investment: % of GDP

• United States Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) registered a growth equal to 1.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with a growth equal to 1.7 % in the previous quarter.
• US Foreign Direct Investment: % of Nominal GDP data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1960 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 6.2 % in Jun 1999 and a record low -1.7 % in Mar 2014.

• In the latest reports of US, Current Account recorded a deficit of 310.9 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 96.6 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• US Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 96.8 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 637.6 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 6,632.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.

In 2022, foreign direct investment (FDI) from the United States to other countries amounted to 6.58 trillion U.S. dollars. Foreign direct investment reflects the ownership of business from one country in another country. It differs from a traditional investment in companies located abroad by the ownership factor in case of FDI.

Why is FDI important?

FDI has influences in the both the sending and receiving countries. In the recipient countries, FDI can be an important source of capital that might not otherwise be available. This is particularly true in less developed regions, such as in Africa. The countries which received the largest amount of foreign direct investment from the United States in 2019 were the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Luxembourg.

FDI flows to the United States

On the other hand, the countries that sent the most FDI to the United States in 2017 were Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada. There were about 8.7 million jobs offered in the U.S. due to foreign direct investments as of 2019.

Key information about United States Foreign Direct Investment

• United States Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 96.6 USD bn in Sep 2024, compared with an increase of 120.7 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• US Foreign Direct Investment: USD mn net flows data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1960 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 244.5 USD bn in Mar 2015 and a record low of -69.8 USD bn in Mar 2014.

• In the latest reports of US, Current Account recorded a deficit of 310.9 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• US Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 96.8 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 637.6 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 6,632.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.

In 2023, the foreign direct investments from Asia Pacific in the United States amounted to approximately 988.75 billion U.S. dollars. The total foreign direct investments in the U.S. were valued at approximately 5.39 billion U.S. dollars in that year.

The United Kingdom received the most direct investment from the United States in 2022, an amount exceeding one trillion U.S. dollars. This measurement was based on a historical-cost basis, meaning that the original cost of investment has been adjusted for inflation.

What is foreign direct investment?

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is the amount that foreign speculators invests in firms in another country. Investors from the United States have trillions of U.S. dollars in FDI invested abroad. This gives firms in those countries access to capital that they might not have otherwise enjoyed, particularly if the firms are in developing regions such as Africa. The United States is also a target country for FDI, with hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars flowing into the United States every year.

Benefits and risks

FDI generally increases the size of both economies. The host country has an inflow in capital, which should lead to a higher number of jobs and increased productivity. The investing company should benefit from the dividends of such investments. However, any investment has default risks. These risks are magnified by the regulatory uncertainty that arises from the fact that two legal systems are involved. This can lead to political pressure, particularly if trade tensions are already high.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S.: Equity; Asset (Market Value), Transactions (BOGZ1FU263092141A) from 1946 to 2024 about FDI, market value, equity, transactions, assets, and USA.

United States Foreign Direct Investment: Other Western Hemisphere (WH) data was reported at 5.734 USD bn in Mar 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of -2.346 USD bn for Dec 2017. United States Foreign Direct Investment: Other Western Hemisphere (WH) data is updated quarterly, averaging 1.247 USD bn from Mar 1994 (Median) to Mar 2018, with 97 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.548 USD bn in Dec 2006 and a record low of -5.023 USD bn in Mar 2007. United States Foreign Direct Investment: Other Western Hemisphere (WH) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.O001: Foreign Direct Investment: By Country.

United States Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) data was reported at 68.087 USD bn in Sep 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 93.902 USD bn for Jun 2024. United States Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) data is updated quarterly, averaging 56.894 USD bn from Mar 1997 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 111 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 236.970 USD bn in Mar 2015 and a record low of -74.867 USD bn in Mar 2014. United States Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.O001: Foreign Direct Investment: by Industry: NAICS: Flow. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

United States Foreign Direct Investment: Middle East data was reported at 174.000 USD mn in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 280.000 USD mn for Mar 2018. United States Foreign Direct Investment: Middle East data is updated quarterly, averaging 168.000 USD mn from Mar 1994 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 96 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.518 USD bn in Dec 2011 and a record low of -1.629 USD bn in Mar 2010. United States Foreign Direct Investment: Middle East data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.O004: Foreign Direct Investment: by Country: Flow.

United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Wholesale Trade data was reported at 15.510 USD bn in Sep 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18.141 USD bn for Jun 2024. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Wholesale Trade data is updated quarterly, averaging 5.477 USD bn from Mar 1997 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 111 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 44.591 USD bn in Mar 2017 and a record low of -12.693 USD bn in Jun 2003. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Wholesale Trade data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.O001: Foreign Direct Investment: by Industry: NAICS: Flow.

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Ireland was reported at --139972323560 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ireland - Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

This statistic shows the direct investment position of the United States in China from 2000 to 2023, on a historical-cost basis. In 2023, the U.S. investments made in China were valued at 126.91 billion U.S. dollars. Direct investment position of the United States - additional information Foreign direct investment (FDI), simply put, is an investment of one company into another company located in a different country. It differs from a traditional way of investing into shares of foreign companies listed on a stock exchange. The companies which make foreign direct investment usually own a part of the company in which they invest and they have influence on the decision making process. In the United States, FDI is defined as an American investor (called the U.S. parent) owning a minimum of 10 percent of a foreign firm (known as a foreign affiliate). The total direct position of the United States abroad amounted to 6.68 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. Although the phenomenon profits greatly from the technological advances of the 21st century, as well as from the cultural flexibility of today’s workforce, FDI has a long history, going back to the colonial empires. Not without critics, FDI is generally believed to bring advantages to the investing company, such as access to new markets and decreased costs of labor, materials and production facilities. The local economy can benefit from an infusion of capital, access to new technologies and engagement of native labor pool. There are three recognized types of foreign direct investment, namely horizontal FDI, platform FDI and vertical FDI, along with various methods of implementing the investment itself. FDI considered by many one of the motors of worldwide economic growth. U.S. foreign investment abroad has seen a dramatic growth in the past decades. Multinational American corporations, especially focused on manufacturing, have largely invested in facilities overseas, due to financial benefits. However, a large share of these corporations focuses toward not only supplying the U.S. market, but also the local markets in which they operate. In 2020, the country that received the largest amount of U.S. foreign investment was the United Kingdom, with a little over one trillion U.S. dollars, followed by the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Overall, the total amount of U.S. dollars invested in European states in 2021 reached 3.98 trillion U.S. dollars compared to 2.25 trillion U.S. dollars a decade prior.

Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) in Argentina was reported at 2961341860 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Argentina - Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) in Mexico was reported at 30199980895 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mexico - Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Real Estate & Rental & Leasing data was reported at 521.000 USD mn in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.507 USD bn for Mar 2018. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Real Estate & Rental & Leasing data is updated quarterly, averaging 646.000 USD mn from Mar 1997 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 86 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.564 USD bn in Jun 2014 and a record low of -5.743 USD bn in Dec 2008. United States (FDI) Foreign Direct Investment: Real Estate & Rental & Leasing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.O001: Foreign Direct Investment: by Industry: NAICS: Flow.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S. Real Estate Business (Market Value); Asset, Revaluation (BOGZ1FR265014003A) from 1946 to 2024 about FDI, revaluation, real estate, assets, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Income Payments on Foreign Direct Investment in U.S. (DISCONTINUED) (BOPMDN) from Q1 1960 to Q1 2014 about FDI, payments, foreign, investment, income, and USA.